Parashat Vayeira: Laughter Against The Dark Plaut p. 132 Source Sheet by Yair Robinson     Genesis 21:1-7   (1) יהוה took note of Sarah as promised, and יהוה did for Sarah what had been announced. (2) Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at...

Or HaGanuz: The Hidden Light Bereshit 5785 Plaut p. 19 Source Sheet by Yair Robinson     Genesis 1:1-5 (1) When God began to create*When God began to create Others “In the beginning God created.” heaven and earth— (2) the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface...

Rabbi Yair Robinson  Sukkot 2024  Why yes, we are, in fact, in the midst of another holiday. The Jewish month of Tishrei is a marathon and a sprint, with one observance or celebration after another. So here we are, after all the drama of the High Holy Days, finding ourselves...

Erev Rosh Hashanah 5785 What is your Beth Emeth story? Tonight, we begin the new year, and we have come to this place. I suppose we could be someplace else, at a different congregation, Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist, Renewal, unaffiliated, or something else. We could, in this day and age...

Vayelekh 2024 Plaut p. 1388 Source Sheet by Yair Robinson     Deuteronomy 31:10-13 (10) And Moses instructed them as follows: Every seventh year,*the year set for remission, at the Feast of Booths, (11) when all Israel comes to appear before your God יהוה in the place that [God] will...

Eikev: Gratitude as a Moral Choice Plaut p. 1230 Source Sheet by Yair Robinson   It’s wonderful to be back from camp, and anyone who has spent any amount of time in Jewish camping knows that we end each meal with some version of birkat hamazon, the grace that we say...

Bechukotai: The Gift of Mitzvot Plaut p. 872 Source Sheet by Yair Robinson   We come to the end of the book of Leviticus, a chance for us to rise up and recite the words ‘chazak chazak v’nitchazek’–be strong, be strong and we will be strengthened. That’s the ritual we...

Behar: Proclaim Release Plaut p. 850 Source Sheet by Yair Robinson     Leviticus 25:10-13 (10) and you shall hallow the fiftieth year. You shall proclaim release throughout the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you: each of you shall return to your holding and...

arashat Tzav 2024 Plaut P. 688  Source Sheet by Yair Robinson   It’s that time of year–with the end of March comes the return of b’nai mitzvah season, and I’m excited we get to begin with Andrew the weekend of his birthday, not the least because it’s my birthday! And my...